I've seen a few people talking about it elsewhere and I was just wondering what everyone thinks they need to do?

Get good fighters.. actually put on ppv...

Continue to put on solid events like their most recent one on CBS. They also need to continue to push to sign more quality foghters. Henderson is a nice name thats out there right now. I think its possible that they can compete with the UFC with the right marketing strategy, but I don't think its anything that will happen overnight. The UFC runs its operation fairly well, and usually puts on pretty good events.

They need to establish concrete weightclasses for men and women with titles that matter. Then they need to build up guys who can actually fight and acquire some veterans to pass the torch to the up and comers.

I think they're on the right track now, but it will take some time for them to iron out some of the kinks, like commentary, production, and establishing contenders.

I think the partnership with DREAM is a good start since it'll bring more lighter fighters into Strikeforce.

I actually don't think it would be that hard. My idea is just keep putting on events on network tv so they can keep getting a bigger and bigger following, Then once they have enough people watch there events every month or so then start putting pvp on or something. Then again I know nothing about business so idk lol.

I think they should start putting big cards on CBS every couple months. Also they need to sign deals for their fights to be broadcast live in places like Europe. Once they have built up a fan base they should start putting on a few PPVs per year. I think a Dream vs Strikeforce megacard would only benefit them.

Obviously, they need to keep bringing in the top quality fighters from Dream, they are doing a good job so far, but more importantly they need to expand their roster with some young upcomings. Wouldn't mind seeing them snatch the best young talent from under the nose of Dana.

With a broadened roster they can put on more shows a year, they should also have a show to showcase the upcoming talent. Maybe profile them, interview them, show them training some highlights etc. Really build up the fighters. The more shows they put on a year the better from a fighters exposure perspective. One important thing should be mandatory title defences. You can't have a title which isn't defended in over a year.

People tell me this will ruin them but I think Strikeforce should also hire some big names i.e. Hendo, Barnett(If his appeal is successful) and perhaps a Gracie or two!

Their allowance of non exclusivity contracts is a good start. It allows them access to higher skilled talent which is necessary to go head to head with the UFC.

What they seriously lack though is good marketing and promotional skills. They keep forgetting that the biggest marketing angle for the UFC is their TUF show which serves to build up fighters as stars while keeping the UFC in touch with their audience on a weekly basis (similar to WWE).

If I was Strikeforce I would hire Ghengis Con as Art Director and totally revamp the entire vibe of the organization and then develop a documentary show that has weekly biopics on fighters, coaches and training camps in order to build a fan base around their stable of talent (biopic style documentary see "Epicly Later'd"). MMA is still growing and you can't just rely on default international MMA fans to fill your seats. You have to make new fans.

xbox.BallPtPenTheif wrote:Their allowance of non exclusivity contracts is a good start. It allows them access to higher skilled talent which is necessary to go head to head with the UFC.

What they seriously lack though is good marketing and promotional skills. They keep forgetting that the biggest marketing angle for the UFC is their TUF show which serves to build up fighters as stars while keeping the UFC in touch with their audience on a weekly basis (similar to WWE).

If I was Strikeforce I would hire Ghengis Con as Art Director and totally revamp the entire vibe of the organization and then develop a documentary show that has weekly biopics on fighters, coaches and training camps in order to build a fan base around their stable of talent (biopic style documentary see "Epicly Later'd"). MMA is still growing and you can't just rely on default international MMA fans to fill your seats. You have to make new fans.

I disagree with this. The Allistair Overeem situation is a perfect example. Big name fighter tied up elsewhere. And it forces them to bend to his will and availability. Plus, what if one of your big name champions goes to another promo and gets waxed? Then that fighter loses a little bit of credibility while raising awareness for the OTHER fighter, and the OTHER promo. And then theres the injury issue which is a whole other topic. I actually think that if they DO get a bit bigger, they will need to look into exclusive contracts. It allows you to protect your brand. Ounce upon a time the UFC didn't have exclusive's either, but one of the MAJOR things that allowed them to grow was taking that step. This way it gave them more insurance for schedueling, and also from keeping their top fighter from going elsewhere and possibly losing, and watering down the rankings allowing them to pump their guys up. And this goes hand in hand with marketing, I mean its easier to market a guy who is on a 5 fight win streak over the last year and a half then a guy who wins a few, but also loses here and there too.

Exclusives also act as a deturent to another problem that plagues MMA and boxing: Ducking, and Cherry picking. Now, you'd be at the mercy of the level of competition of the promotion that your in, but with the promo arranging your fights for you by way of next best challenger, it makes it more difficult to pick and choose. Now it doesn't always work out, see the upcoming Dan Hardy and GSP match (that will allegedly happen). But MOST of the time, it allows the promo to create better match-ups by feeding in the next guy in line. Its not perfect, but its about as close as we're likely to see.

Thats just my take of course. I'd like to see these contracts worked out in a better and more fair fashion for the protection of the fighters though. Maybe a fighters union or association would help?

I would say publicity and time slot placement as well as proper channel placement... I don't think PPV helps promote a sport, it helps pay for a sport for which there is already a huge demand. If the demand isn't there yet and the fanbase isn't there who is going to pay for it?

I would promote Gegard Mousasi, Gina Carano, Fedor Emelianenko: meaning that these people would be the fighters that are used to draw people in via advertisements.

Aim at the 15-35 group and make sure it's on a channel they can watch at a time they will watch and they are aware the fight is on...

maybe even bring in Royce Gracie somehow in advertisements as an announcer/commentator or something...

I would make the fights so that decisions are geared towards the fighters actually being aggressive and trying to win, that is to say...not trying not to lose...Royce Gracie for example was kind of boring to watch because he would tie guys up and they would be there for awhile but with Gracie that usually meant the decision was clear as the opponent would tap out. I am not a fan of fights being decided by judges at all especially when the fight is not really a fight but more of a hug fest... another fight decided was pulver vs faber...all out war...pulver gets credit for lasting both guys fought hard and I think the decision was obvious and the fight was clearly written on their faces....

I hate fights like Couture vs Vera... a disgrace imo


also maybe some drama, namecalling/verbal sparring prior to the main event...weeks in advance...